MAY I ASK? Bad economy ? anxiety, illness (Medfield Press)

Friday

Jul 6, 2012 at 12:01 AMJul 6, 2012 at 6:18 AM

Q: Over the past few months, I’ve been losing sleep worrying about keeping my job and keeping my house. Lately, my irritable bowel syndrome has been acting up, making me even more miserable. Can a bad economy actually be bad for your health?

A: Absolutely! In fact, the National Institutes of Health has established a correlation between unemployment and depression, anxiety, and physical illness. Whenever the stock market plummets and foreclosures and layoffs skyrocket, people experience a variety of physical and emotional symptoms. Ongoing economic uncertainty and unemployment benefits that are running out are taking their toll on countless individuals every day.

Lauren Solotar, Ph.D., ABPP

Q: Over the past few months, I’ve been losing sleep worrying about keeping my job and keeping my house. Lately, my irritable bowel syndrome has been acting up, making me even more miserable. Can a bad economy actually be bad for your health?

A: Absolutely! In fact, the National Institutes of Health has established a correlation between unemployment and depression, anxiety, and physical illness. Whenever the stock market plummets and foreclosures and layoffs skyrocket, people experience a variety of physical and emotional symptoms. Ongoing economic uncertainty and unemployment benefits that are running out are taking their toll on countless individuals every day.

Financial stress can have a significant emotional and physical impact on individuals and their families. The fear of losing a job or a change in financial status can exacerbate depression and anxiety. This can occur both in individuals prone to depression and anxiety and in those who may not have experienced these symptoms before. The combination of financial stress and worries with physical or behavioral health symptoms can make a person feel even worse and have a negative impact on his or her perceptions about life in general.

When one member of a family is suffering from stress, anxiety and/or depression, the entire family may experience problems. Stress may make a parent short-tempered or irritable and he/she may have less patience for the children in the family. The impact of the parent’s mood will affect children and may contribute to peer and sibling fighting, substance abuse, depression, and problems in school.

Financial difficulties can also lead to marital discord. People in our society find it very difficult to discuss money. Often spouses/partners will blame each other for the difficulties rather than work together on financial problem-solving. It is crucial to keep the lines of communication open.

Control is key

Changes in the national economy increase personal anxiety levels because they are outside our ability to control. One way to address and control that anxiety is to develop a plan to manage your own finances. If you and your partner/spouse disagree about major budgetary issues, you may want to seek treatment from a professional counselor and/or a financial planner who can help you manage your finances. Create a budget and acknowledge and reward yourself and each other when you stay within the guidelines you have set.

Another way to reduce anxiety is to learn how to manage your affect or to find ways to relax that work for you. These do not have to be costly or time-consuming activities. Focus on things that make you feel better, more in control, and more connected to others. Below are some suggestions:

learn how to do progressive muscle relaxation

have lunch with a friend

take a walk

play a sport or take a yoga class

listen to music

call a friend

decide to do nothing for a day

organize your closet

bake

exchange massages with a friend or partner

rent a movie

focus on all of the positive aspects of your life

Whatever you choose, it is important to find ways to take care of yourself. If your stress level or depression is interfering with your daily functioning, seek professional help. Sadly, despair about finances is one of the leading causes of suicide in men, so it is vitally important to monitor symptoms of depression of the men in your life during an economic downturn. There are numerous short-term cognitive behavioral techniques that can be implemented to manage stress and anxiety. For some, medication may also a good option.

While you may not be able to change what’s happening out in the world, you can take control of your own life. Talk with your loved ones about your concerns, develop a plan for managing your finances, and reduce your anxiety level by learning how to relax.

Lauren Solotar, Ph.D., ABPP, is the chief executive officer for May Institute, and a clinical psychologist who has specialized in eating and anxiety disorders.

May Institute’s counseling centers in Walpole and West Roxbury offer emotional and psychological services to children, adolescents and adults. Professionals at the centers offer specialized clinical care for emotional and behavioral concerns including anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, women’s issues, and school and learning difficulties. For more information, call 800-778-7601, or visit www.mayinstitute.org.